Steve Monite – Only You

An essential record for fans of rare groove, leftfield funk, and crate-digger soul—Only You is pure heat from the heart of ’80s Nigeria.  

Originally released in 1984 and ignored in its time, Only You is now rightly revered as one of the crown jewels of Nigerian boogie. Steve Monite’s sole album glows with slick synths, unshakable grooves, and a futuristic funk feel that sounds just as thrilling decades later. With production by Nkono Teles—an unsung architect of the Nigerian disco scene—the LP blends American funk influences with space-age studio trickery, resulting in an afro-cosmic sound far ahead of its time.

The title track, “Only You,” is the undeniable centerpiece—a slow-burning synth-funk anthem that’s been spun by everyone from Frank Ocean to Dam-Funk, sampled by artists like Young Franco, and covered live by the likes of the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. But the rest of the record more than holds its own: from the silky grooves of “Welcome My Love” to the eerily prescient “Things Fall Apart,” written during Nigeria’s political upheaval in ’83, Monite proves himself a master of melancholy dancefloor elegance.

Lovingly restored and reissued by Soundway Records, this edition is pressed on heavyweight 180g black vinyl and includes liner notes that tell the full story—from Monite’s childhood to the EMI studio sessions where this Afro-electro landmark came to life. A cult classic reborn, finally receiving the flowers it always deserved.

Note: All orders ship from France. VAT not charged (TVA non applicable, article 293 B du CGI). Worldwide shipping available. Images shown are mock-ups — actual vinyl may differ slightly.